Unsung Heroines on thirteen.org

When approaching a project for March, a.k.a. Women’s History Month, I was reminded/inspired by a project started by Gail O’Hara, the editor/publisher of a little-known feminist music magazine called Chickfactor. That project, not extant (sadly!), was to be called “Dead Ladies”, and was to be all about women who were no longer with us, yet still had an impact on our collective and individual lives, still: both tribute and education.

I also wanted to know the same of my co-workers—a diverse bunch who introduced me to women I’d never heard of but I’m glad I did, like the amazing Beate Sirota, who helped write women’s rights into the Japanese Constitution at age 22, or Grace Hopper, the woman who first used the term ‘computer bug’ (see Hopper, and our other heroines).

My own inspirations I didn’t include so much—they’re kind of odd, and pretty out there (Dori Seda, Caroline Coon, Nagi Noda), and they change from minute-to-minute. Though I will concur with Bill Moyers about the remarkable Grace Lee Boggs—a force of nature and persistent vision.

And, having now been introduced to Sissy Farenthold, a former VP Candidate who still, at 82, is still almost ridiculously active in holding a bright light up to the activities of our own government, I’d add her to my list too.